Why Tom Welling Can't Be Superman (But Was Perfect For Smallville)
Tom Welling's Clark Kent may have been perfect for Smallville, but he can't ever play Superman. Smallville enjoyed a 10-season run and remains a firm fan favorite even a decade after its final season. Its star, Tom Welling, brought a new version of young Clark Kent to life, and the show explored his origins as a Kansas farm boy as he set out on the path toward becoming a hero.
One of Smallville's cardinal rules was «no tights, no flights» — a mandate created by the show's creators, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The idea behind it was that despite Smallville being the perfect Superman origin story, it was important to keep it as strictly that, with Clark Kent not becoming the iconic hero until the final episode. The rule might seem risky — not including any of the most recognizable aspects of its main character is an interesting choice — but ultimately, it paid off, and Smallville remains an important and beloved part of Superman's wider canon.
Related: Why DC Keeps Changing How Superman First Saved Lois Lane
Despite Welling starring as Clark Kent for a full decade, the actor has never actively portrayed Superman, and it's unlikely that he ever truly will in live-action. With his role on Smallville becoming such a thorough exploration of Clark Kent and the show's «no tights, no flights» rule being such an integral part of it, it's simply not something that Welling's quite right for. Outside of voicing Superman in Smallville's animated spin-off, he'll likely never play the Man of Steel, and there's a number of reasons why.
DC's continuity is currently somewhat convoluted, with two major separate universes, as well as a number of cinematic offshoots, presently occurring. While this in and of itself isn't a major issue, it
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